Raising the Dead …Part 3 …Opening Pandora's Box

Len Turk had been Alex's research assistant for two years and in that time his respect for Alex had only increased.

He knew his mentor was gifted and held in high regard by his colleagues on campus, but what Len learned being up close and personal with the professor was how brilliant Alex really was.

It wasn't just his credentials and near legendary reputation among his peers but Alex's devotion to pursuing research that fellow professionals would not dare to tackle for risk of failure and loss of status.

It was this selfless devotion to pursuing research that Len really admired and was the reason he agreed to particpate in such an unorthodox project that was tantamount to channeling the thoughts of the dead.

Alex prepared the equipment and followed the same procedural protocils that enabled him to experience a vision of an unkown woman.

Len was connected up to the apparatus and despite his doubts and misgivings, witnessed the same startling vision Alex had described.

It was uncanny and unsettling and it took Len several minutes to calm himself enough to describe what he had observed.

"It was eerie and profondly disturbing," he told Alex, "it was almost what I would term mystical were it not so tangible and real. I felt I was staring into the face of a strikingly beautiful woman but it was her eyes that impressed me― they seemed to gaze directly into my soul."

"Well, we can rule out any subjective elements now," Alex observed as Len sat trembling in an office chair.

"It's so hard to believe, Alex― it was as real as looking with your own eyes and the woman was remarkably beautiful in a compelling way."

"Exactly what happened to me," Alex nodded, "and I have no idea what causes it or what it actually is. I'll have to reflect on what the implications are in terms of science, especially going forward.

Alex suggested they break for the day to give Len time to recover and arranged to meet early the following morning.

Len readily agreed. What happened to him was so disturbing he wouldn't be able to concentrate anyway. He kept seeing the woman's face and those haunting eyes.

Alex shut off the lights and closed the door but knew what they discovered couldn't be so easily contained.

He offered to drive Len home as usual but on this particular occasion the car ride was very subdued with each man lost in his own thoughts and both wondering if they had somehow stumbled onto an arcane mystery that if pursued would be akin to opening a Pandora's box of grief for each of them...

Was it worth it for them to explore such controversial research with no idea of where the investigation might lead?

Only time would tell, Alex mused, and that thought was the most frightening prospect of all.